Luke tayloe



(No Model.)

L. TAYLOR.

RAILROAD TIE.

No. 368,020 Patented May 17, 1887.

am d wot UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUKE TAYLOR, OF BUTTE CREEK, OREGON.

RAILROAD-Tl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,020, dated May 1'7,1887.

Application filed July 12, 1886. Serial No. 207,740.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUKE TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Butte Creek, in the county of Glackamas, State of Oregon,have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Railroad-Ties, ofwhich the following is aspecification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a hollow railroadtie open at both ends. The topof the tie is flat, while the bottom, which is parallel with the top, isslightly concave on its under side. Both sides of the tie recede fromthe bottom upward at an equal angle until they join the top of the tie,forming in cross-section an equilateraltriangle having one of its anglesout by a plane parallel with the opposite side. This form, which isadapted to be placed upon the surface of the ground, secures greatstability and firmness, owing to its broad concave bottom, narrow top,and straight sloping sides.

The tie is made of one piece, and may be cast of iron, or made ofpapier-mach, vulcanized fiber, or any suitable material.

The interior of the tie may be coated with any suitable water-proofpreparationsuch as tar, &cto protect it from moisture.

The top of the tie is provided with boltholes, through which passscrew-bolts for holding the rails. The screw-bolts may be secured withor without nuts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of thehollow tie, and Fig. 2 is shows the same with a flat bottom.

(No model.)

a view in cross-section of the same, and shows the tie with aslightly-concave bottom.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both the figures.

In the tie A, B represents the top; 0, the bottom; D D, the slopingsides; E E, the rails; F F, the apertures in the top plate, B, for thescrew-bolts G G; and H H, the nuts holding the same, which, however, maybe dispensed with.

A transverse ledge, I, may be provided across the top plate, B, againstwhich rails E E may fit, in which case screw-bolts will be required onone side only of the rail. thus adding to the strength of the tie. Thisform is shown on one end of tie A, Fig. 1.

The open ends of the tie slope up from the bottom to the top at aboutthe same angle as the sides. This, however, is not essential, and

the tie may be perpendicular at the ends, if 5 desired.

I am aware that ties of rectangular shape have been used, and I do notclaim any such as of my invention; but

\rVhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a hollow railroad-tie, a bottom flat on the inside and concave on theoutside, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

LUKE TAYLOR.

XVitnesses:

MARVIN J. WHITE, MARY A. KNIGHT.

